Blind Faith subsea engineering under way

Subsea engineering is under way for high-pressure, high-temperature Blind Faith oil and gas field in deep water of the Gulf of Mexico, reports INTEC Engineering.

Feb. 23, 2006

By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Feb. 23 -- Subsea engineering is under way for high-pressure, high-temperature Blind Faith oil and gas field in deep water of the Gulf of Mexico, reports INTEC Engineering.

Under contract with operator Chevron Corp., INTEC is supporting subsea engineering, procurement, and project management services during the manufacturing, construction, and installation phases of development.

The project involves subsea wells in 7,000 ft of water and a semisubmersible production facility. The field lies on Mississippi Canyon blocks 695 and 696.

Subsea equipment is being designed to handle pressures up to 15,000 psi and temperatures as high as 300° F., INTEC said.

Production is to start in first-quarter 2008 through three wells at rates of 30,000 b/d of oil and 30 MMcfd of gas (OGJ, Oct. 17, 2005, Newsletter).

The subsea system is designed for two additional wells. The production facility, with expandable capacities of 45,000 b/d and 45 MMcfd, is configured to accept additional tie-backs (OGJ, Jan. 23, Newsletter).

Production will flow from individual trees into a four-slot subsea manifold and from there through dual, 7-in. nominal diameter, 4.5-mile production flowlines to the semi. The system design accommodates gas lift.